Means for attaching a key tag to key ring or chain

ABSTRACT

Means for attaching a key tag to a key ring or key chain comprising a separate attaching strip which is formed prefolded or bent of a plastic material or is formed flat so that it can be looped around a key ring or key chain, with the opposite ends of the strip positioned on the opposite sides of a key tag and then anchored to said key tag by a fastening member such as an eyelet or the like.

United States Patent Shevin Oct. 15, 1974 [54] MEANS FOR ATTACHING A KEY TAG TO l.7l3,l53 5/1929 Wchber 40/10 KEY RlNG 0 CHAIN 2,482,422 9/1949 Locw 150/40 3,620,057 11/1971 Holland 70/45 C R Jack R. Shevin, 1227-1231 W. Loyola Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60626 Filed: on. 4, 1972 Appl. No.: 294,969

Inventor:

US. Cl 70/456 R Int. Cl A47g 29/10 Field of Search 70/456-459; 24/73 6, 16 PB; 40/2 R, 2 A, 23 A, 24', 283/18; 87/8.4, 8.2, 8.3, 8.0, 8.1

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1894 Bledsoe 40/10 Primary Examiner-Robert L. Wolfe Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Max R. Kraus 5 7 ABSTRACT Means for attaching a key tag to a key ring or key chain comprising a separate attaching strip which is formed prefolded or bent of a plastic material or is formed flat so that it can be looped around a key ring or key chain, with the opposite ends of the strip positioned on the opposite sides of a key tag and then anchored to said key tag by a fastening member such as an eyelet or the like.

1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures MEANS FOR ATTACHING A KEY TAG TO KEY RING OR CHAIN BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It has been the practice heretofore in connection with attaching key tags to key rings or chains to form the key tag with an integrally formed extension strip which is looped around the key ring or chain, with the free end of the strip anchored to the key tag. Thus, when injection molded the key tag was made with the extension strip as an integral part thereof. This would limit the number of key tags that were injection molded with each opening of the die, which adds to the production costs. Also, if the key tag were of a certain color then the extension strip would have to be of the same color.

The present invention is directed to provide means for attaching a key tag to a key ring or chain in the form of an attaching strip which is injection molded of a plastic material, such as polyethylene, polypropelyne or other material, and which is molded as a separate component from the key tag. The molded strip can be preformed to a folded or bent shape as it is ejected from the plastic molding machine so that it can be readily slipped over a key ring or chain, with the free ends of the strip provided with alined openings which are alined with the key tag opening and secured thereto by means of a rivet or eyelet, or the molded strip may be ,in a flat form whereby it can be readily folded and/or looped around the key ring or chain and the opposite end openings of the strip alined with the key tag opening and attached thereto. This would reduce the cost and permit various contrasting color combinations to be utilized with the key tag. For example, a key tag may be of one color and the strip of another color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view of the molded strip in bent shape in the manner it is ejected from the plastic injection molding machine;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of one type of ke -3.;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view showing the bent molded strip slipped over a key ring and secured to the key tag;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view showing the bent molded strip securing a key chain to another type of key tag;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the molded strip in a flat form in which form it is ejected from a plastic injection molding machine.

The key tag, designated by the numeral 10 and shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, is in the form of a plastic disk and'said disk is molded with an opening 12 adjacent the top thereof. The key ring designated at 14 may comprise any conventional split key ring. The attaching integrally formed bent strip designated at 16 is injection molded in the form of a bent strip, as shown in FIG. 1, and when ejected from the molding machine is in this preformed bent shape of a generally U-shaped configuration with spaced sides 18 and 20 connected by an arcuate-shaped portion 22 at one end. The bent strip is made preferably of plastic material such as polyethylene, polypropelyne or any plastic material. When the strip is molded it is formed with preformed openings 24 adjacent the free opposite ends thereof, which openings are in alinement. Integrally formed around said openings 24 on the exterior surfaces 26 is an embossed or raised annular surface 28 which provides a greater thickness at said ends.

In connecting the key ring 14 to the key tag 10, the already folded or bent attaching strip 16 is first slipped over the key ring 14 and the opposite free ends of the strip having the alined openings 24 are positioned over the key tag 10 and are alined with the opening 12 in the key tag. A metal fastener such as a rivet or eyelet 30 is inserted through the openings and clinched so that the opposite ends of the strip are securely fastened and attached to the key tag 10. The key ring 14 is free to be rotated in the looped attachment. As best seen in FIG. 5, the opposite clinched ends 32 of the metal fastener 30 abut against the annular embossed portion 28 of the strip and said clinched ends are imbedded inside said annular embossings 28 so that the clinched ends are inwardly of the outer plane of the embossing to protect same and prevent their engagement with a contacting surface. The embossings also provide a reinforcement for the strip at the point of attachment.

In the FIG. 4 embodiment the same bent strip 16 is attached in a like manner to a conventional key chain 34, with the opposite ends of the strip 16 secured to a somewhat different type of key tag 36, which key tag has an elongated slot 38. The openings 24 in the opposite ends of the strip are alined with the elongated opening 38 and the same fastening element 30 is passed therethrough and attached. Other types and styles of key tags and/or key rings or chains may be attached with the attaching strip forming this invention.

FIG. 6 shows a modification in which the attaching strip is injection molded as a flat plastic strip and is generally designated at 16'. It is formed flat but has the same structural elements as the bent strip and said structural elements bear the same numerals and designations primed so that it is unnecessary to repeat same. The flat attaching strip 16' attached in the same manner as that previously described, except that it has to be folded or bent to the shape shown in FIG. 1 when at taching same.

With this invention the key tag and strip are separate elements and are attached to the key ring or key chain in the manner described.

What is claimed is:

1. Means for attaching a key tag to a key ring or chain comprising, a separately formed single attaching strip of plastic material which is molded to a preformed U- shaped configuration in transverse section'with spaced parallel sides connected by an arcuate-shaped end portion having spaced sides in the same plane as the spaced parallel sides, with a preformed opening'adjacent each of the opposite free ends of the strip and with the openings alined, an annular embossed or raised surface surrounding each of said openings, said arcuate shaped end portion positioned around a key ring or chain to permit said key ring or chain to be freely manually rotated within said arcuateshaped end portion,

- said free ends of the strip being positioned on the opposite sides of a key tag with the openings alinedwith the key tag opening, and a fastening member extending through said openin s and clinched at its ogposite ends to engage said annu ar embossed surfaces ut with the clinched ends inwardly of the outer plane of the embossed surfaces to prevent engagement with a contacting surface and for permanently fastening said strip to said key tag and joining said key tag to said key ring or chain. 

1. Means for attaching a key tag to a key ring or chain comprising, a separately formed single attaching strip of plastic material which is molded to a preformed U-shaped configuration in transverse section with spaced parallel sides connected by an arcuate-shaped end portion having spaced sides in the same plane as the spaced parallel sides, with a preformed opening adjacent each of the opposite free ends of the strip and with the openings alined, an annular embossed or raised surface surrounding each of said openings, said arcuate-shaped end portion positioned around a key ring or chain to permit said key ring or chain to be freely manually rotated within said arcuateshaped end portion, said free ends of the strip being positioned on the opposite sides of a key tag with the openings alined with the key tag opening, and a fastening member extending through said openings and clinched at its opposite ends to engage said annular embossed surfaces but with the clinched ends inwardly of the outer plane of the embossed surfaces to prevent engagement with a contacting surface and for permanently fastening said strip to said key tag and joining said key tag to said key ring or chain. 